Thread: Question for the anti live sonar folks

I have live sonar and enjoy using it, it's fun to see a crappie get excited and hit your jig. Could I do without it, I would rather not. But the combination of electronics most useful to me are a spotlock TM, and GPS mapping with a heading sensor.

To me it takes away the "me against the fish". I want to rely on picking a likely spot, fishing it, then being excited and surprised if I get bit. I don't want a scripted fishing experience. I see the fish. Here it comes. Wait...wait...set the hook now. Where is the surprise and excitement??? If you enjoy that kind of day on the water, then more power to you. I'm just not that guy. I not a hater but please leave me some fish

Before FFS my favorite method was single pole jigging brushpiles and stake beds. Now with FFS I fish for open water roamers and schools more. I still love to drop a jig down in those old brushpiles too.
I never knock anybody’s choice of techniques, FFS or not, minnows or jigs, ect. At the end of the day, if they obeyed the game laws, they have a limit and I have a limit. Where does it make a difference?



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To each their own. It sure helps me on most lakes that have finicky fish. Like someone once said- If you ain't scopin', you're hopin'!

I've used FFS for only 1 year so far, and I've still gone home with an empty livewell a few times because the fish simply wouldn't bite--it is still amazing to watch a fish look at a jig and then swim away. I still didn't catch any limits this year, although the time to setup and figure out what the fish wanted to bite did get reduced because I was able to see what is happening below the water in real time. Additionally, I still mostly spider rig (w/ jigs) or long line troll (w/ crankbaits), so it's not like I'm going to a spot and singling out 2-3lb crappie exclusively.

Originally Posted by jjue1979

I've used FFS for only 1 year so far, and I've still gone home with an empty livewell a few times because the fish simply wouldn't bite--it is still amazing to watch a fish look at a jig and then swim away. I still didn't catch any limits this year, although the time to setup and figure out what the fish wanted to bite did get reduced because I was able to see what is happening below the water in real time. Additionally, I still mostly spider rig (w/ jigs) or long line troll (w/ crankbaits), so it's not like I'm going to a spot and singling out 2-3lb crappie exclusively.

That pretty much sums up my experience, I haven't had mine a year yet though. I cast 99% of the time, I'm just looking to catch fish, not specifically targeting anything but crappie. It seems that there is a misconception that if you install FFS you catch limits of giants every time you go. That's just not the truth.

Someone mentioned ethics, FFS sonar has nothing to do with one's ethics. If you're the type of person who don't follow the fishing regulations, you're not going to follow them regardless of if you're fishing from the bank with a cane pole and bobber or out of a $120k Ranger with all the latest electronics.

I have a Lowrance Hook 5 depthfinder on my kayak and it works pretty well. I read the structure and thermocline to find fish and don't hunt individual fish like Live Scope helps with. My hands stay full of a paddle, rods, or net when I'm fishing. Adding anything else hand operated would just complicate matters and give me too much to concentrate on. I catch enough that I don't really think I need L/S.

For the record, I drive a truck where the key goes in the dashboard. It doesn't have GPS, push button start, or blue tooth audio, because what I have works good and the truck gets me where I want to go. My kayak seems to like it too. I won't say that I'll never switch to L/S, but I'm happy with what I've got.

Jim

I am a keep it simple person. It is not about what I find acceptable. It is about what I find preferable. For anyone else as long as it is legal I have no objection to it. I fish out of a canoe with no electronics of any kind. That is the fishing experience that I enjoy most. Others have different preferences. You do you and I'll do me.


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